Porquerolles : the Jewel in the Crown of the Golden Islands

A few minutes by boat from the Giens Peninsula is Porquerolles, the most famous of Hyères’ Golden Islands. Combining idyllic beaches, a turquoise sea and a wild landscape, it’s a raw and precious gem of Provence.

You embark for Porquerolles Island, bigger and more civilized than Port-Cros or Le Levant, the two other Golden Islands of Hyères, from Giens. As soon as you step on to this territory, protected since 1988, you discover a village dating back to 1820, with the Sainte-Agathe fort, a defensive structure dating from the 16th century, towering over it.

In addiction to this history is the beauty of the landscape: to the north of this heavenly island of 12.5 km2 you find the most beautiful white sandy beaches. The south, steeper, makes do with cliffs and rocky coves, to the delight of hikers.

And disciples of mountain bikes won’t be disappointed either, as cars are completely banned from Porquerolles, giving this Provençale land, where nature still reigns supreme, even more charm.

A wild island presenting landscapes of utter beauty; for that matter, recently the readers of the newspaper Var Matin elected the Argent beach, the most famous of the Porquerolles island, as being the prettiest piece of sand in the Var region.

Originating from Marseille, the illustrator Charlotte Gastaut lent her talent to the decoration of L'Occitane’s Cherry Blossom collection. Between Provencal influence and Japanese inspiration, she invites us in to her dream world.

Native to the Mediterranean and passionate about cooking, Estérelle Payany dreamed of writing about the gastronomy of Provence. In her new book "Provence, les meilleures recettes,” presenting the best recipes of Provence, she spotlights this cuisine of near and far.

Born under the French Riviera sun, Façonnable has been tastefully revisiting its tailoring heritage in recent years. A major turning point began with the creation of a more sportswear wardrobe, in tune with the codes that have made such a success of the Nice label.

On 2 February 2015, French gastronomy’s famous red guide unveiled the 609 graduates of its 2015 edition. This major event crowned with a star no less than nine Provencal chefs for their cuisine of southern accents.

Literally meaning "wet bread," the traditional sandwich of the fishermen and workers of Nice is soaked in olive oil and tomato juice. Its filling is a cousin to the Salade Niçoise. Enjoy some real Provencal street food!

The magic of the end-of-year festivities is underway! This year, inspired by the myth of the Arlesienne, L'OCCITANE makes Christmas dance. This elegant silhouette guides the skipping steps of the guests of the city of Arles.

Passing through Volx? Make sure to visit Les Petites Tables, a restaurant located inside the Olive Tree Eco-Museum. On site, Virginia Besançon and Josephine Pirolet will welcome you for a tasty Provencal brunch. Let’s eat!